My 2004 Taurus has a transmission that is slow going into reverse or drive. Once it goes into gear there is no further problem. It doesn't slip nor is it hesitant about shifting gears. I was going to change the fluid and filter but was told by a trans. man it would be best not to. I'm looking for advice on what to do please

 

I have heard this a few times and have yet to have anything bad happen when the fluid and filter was changed. If the filter is plugged it means the pump has to work harder to pick up the fluid and build up pressure. There are times when people are afraid to change the fluid and filter for fear something bad will happen. If that was the case there would be no change recommendation by the manufacturer. On the other hand the newer vehicles have no provision to change the internal filters without taking the trans completely apart. There are filters in there, but the logic appears to be replace the trans. I guess this is called progress. By the time the filter gets changed it will need another trans. They have yet been able to make clutch facings that don't flake off and settle in the bottom of the pan unless they are made like heavy duty commercial equipment transmissions that use brass plates instead of fiber composition plates. If the trans is going to crap out changing the fluid shouldn't harm it.
I wouldn't consider a trans flush either.

 

Go to a shop that you trust that will do the work that you request. My 04 Taurus DOHC has over 235,000 mi on what I believe is the original tranny( I bought the car with 130,000 mi on it) . Be sure and firmly demand Mercon V ATF only. Do not allow them to talk you into some flim-flam Dexron/Mercon Multi-Vehicle ATF.

 

I am with these two guys, change the filter an fluid an do not have a flush done. The torque convertor is the garbage pit of your tranny. It collects everything .

 

I change my transmission filter & flush every 30,000 miles, regardless of what ford says, and you will fell the difference. sho11

 

This is a common symptom of a failing pump in the transmission. That is not to say that this is your problem as there are other possibilities, e.g. valve body problems or solenoid seal problems. The trans can be tested by a qualified transmission shop. Try the fluid and filter change and if that does not improve things have it tested.